Man that was scary as shit! Seems like you made a very quick decision to point em fall line and held onto a good deal of composure. I think I would've screamed like a little girl and probably would've continued across and thrown myself into that exposure like a spider monkey.

I liked on the freeskier link you talked about your decision making process and the steps you took prior to skiing the line. I think people should talk more about those decisions. So many yahoos with no real understanding of snowpack and what mountains are capable of just sending it.

This is more of a general question, but KC I'd like your input: You said the day before you had skied the same zone. What's that selection process like? Do you guys dig pits (even quick ones) on various aspects to get a feel? Just ski cut everything and kick cornices? Just know the terrain and snowpack well enough where it's more of an intuitive decision coupled with avy forecasting for that day/elevation/aspect?

I'd assume on a big project with a big budget there'd by guides/snow safety people who work with the same terrain day in and day out, but with a crew like Voleurz are you just relying on one another to make terrain decisions?

You are correct on all point I guess. I mean the area around whistler we know really well for one, and we also know the snowpack fairly well. If I am not here part of the crew is most of the season and we are aware of bad layers, etc.

Typically when I go out to film first we check the avi forecast the night before, and since we know what the snow is coming in on top of(hard layer, hoar frost) we know where to go and where to start with things. From there we will dig pits, and if we are unsure we will ski cut or like we did on this day drop a part of a cornice to try and get the snow to move. Also before getting on big terrain or above any exposure we usually ski a line on the same aspect to feel out the snow.

So no we don't go out with guides. The only time I go with a guide is at a heli operation, or on some trips out of the country where we don't know the area at all. Typically I just rely on the knowledge that I have from years of experience and hope you make the correct choice.

You are correct on all point I guess. I mean the area around whistler we know really well for one, and we also know the snowpack fairly well. If I am not here part of the crew is most of the season and we are aware of bad layers, etc.

Typically when I go out to film first we check the avi forecast the night before, and since we know what the snow is coming in on top of(hard layer, hoar frost) we know where to go and where to start with things. From there we will dig pits, and if we are unsure we will ski cut or like we did on this day drop a part of a cornice to try and get the snow to move. Also before getting on big terrain or above any exposure we usually ski a line on the same aspect to feel out the snow.

So no we don't go out with guides. The only time I go with a guide is at a heli operation, or on some trips out of the country where we don't know the area at all. Typically I just rely on the knowledge that I have from years of experience and hope you make the correct choice.